Machine for packaging tooth brushes



Nov. 8, 1938. E. r-. HARMON MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TOOTH BRUSHES FiledDec. 13. 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet l /7 jdQ/C? Wilma-m1.

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MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TOOTH BRUSHES Filed Dec. 13. 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet2 4. L 2w n1 Nov. 8, 1938. E. F. HARMON MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TOOTHBRUSHES Nov. 8, 1938.

E. F. HARMON MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TOOTH BRUSHES Filed Dec. 13. 1935 12Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 8, 1938. E. F. HARMON 2,135,751

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TOOTH BRUSHES Filed Dec. 15, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet6 27 v WA lvcdszrr [hwimrman Nov. 8, 1938. E. F. HARMON 2,135,751

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TOOTH BRUSHES Filed Dec. 13. 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet7 mow/2% Nov. 8, 1938. E. F. HARMON MACHINE FOR PACKAGING 'I'GOTHBRUSHES Filed Dec. 13. 19:55

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E. F. HARMON MACHINE FOR PACKAQING TOOTH BRUSHES Nov. 8, 1938.

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Nov. 8, 1938. E. F. HARMON MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TOOTH BRUSHES FiledDec. 13. 1935 12 Sheets-Sheer, l0

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MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TOOTH BRUSHES Filed Dec. 13, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheetll 74 i-j/j kzaz v f w M 12 Sheets-Sheer. 12

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E. HARMON MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TOOTH BRUSHES Filed Dec. 13, 1955Patented Nov. 8, 1938 MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TOOTH BRUSHES Edward F.Harmon. Flushing, N. Y., asslgnor, by mesne assignments, to E. I. duPont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of DelawareApplication December 13, 1935, Serial No. 54,301

31 Claims.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide for the packagingof a toothbrush or other brush by encasing the bristles in an envelopeof cellulose, waterproof paper or the like;

to provide for forming the said envelope by running a sheet of thecellulose material along a path, pushing it through a die or the like bymeans of a plunger, holding it in its extreme position, sealing its sideedges, after the brush is inserted, forming the neck of the envelopearound the shank of the toothbrush handle, and sealing it; to providefor sealing the sides of the package by means of heat in a very simpleand convenient way involving no loss of time;

to provide for bringing the said envelope or package into verticalposition with its open mouth at the top and introducing the bristle endof a brush into it automatically; to provide for bringing plungers andthe like up against the open end of the bag and pressing them againstthe handle so as to get a preliminary seal; to provide for rotating thebrush in this position on its own axis and bringing tape of cellulose,or other material, having one side sticky, into contact with therotating brush so as to wind a strip of this material around the brushto hermetically seal it; to provide a storage for the sealing tape inthe form of a rotary reel having a series of rolls thereon arrangedtangentially and each one of them being adapted to apply a piece of thesealing tape to the brush and package as the seal moves around and asthe rush rotates; to provide means for feeding the brushes into themachine and guiding them into the open tops of the envelopes, and toprovide a machine which will operate automatically and continuously toturn out great quantities of brushes having the bristles located inenvelopes of Cellophane" or the like and hermetically sealed and a newmethod of so sealing the bristles of the brushes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings. in which Fig. l isa plan of a machine for encasing the bristles of a toothbrush in apackage or envelope;

Fig. 1 is a plan of the drive for the feed rolls;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, taken in the direction of the arrow2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation looking at the machine in the direction of thearrow 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the mechanism on the line 4-4of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan on enlarged scale of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a plan of the auxiliary drive for the turret, reel drive,slide drive and power drive, with the shafts in section;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 'I-l of Fig. 5;

Fig-8 is an elevation of part of the conveyor drive;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the brush feeding-in 10 mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a plan of a part of the auxiliary drive for the turret;

Fig. 11 is an end view of the same as indicated by the arrow H in Fig.10; 15

Fig. 12 is a plan of the feeding-in chute for the brushes as indicatedby the arrow 12 in F1 9;

Fig. 13 is a similar view of the brush tilting means, taken in thedirection of the arrow I! in 20 Fig. 9; r

Fig. 14 is a plan of the lower part of the guide for the brush, taken inthe direction of the arrow II in Fig. 9;

Fig. 15 is an elevation taken in the direction 26 of the arrow I! inFig. 1;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on the line |6I6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a plan of the guide for the "Cellophane on the line 11-" ofFig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a plan of the feed rolls as indicated by the arrow II in Fig.16;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on the line lO-IQ of Fig. 15, showing thecutting knife and stop;

Fig. 20 is a plan of a. conveyor for removing 35 the brushes after theyhave been encased and sealed;

Fig. 21 is a plan of the feed rolls and their operating mechanism;

Fig. 22 is a part plan of the means for form- 40 ing the envelope orpackage with parts in sectlon;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view on the line 23-23 of Fig. 22 showing the endelevation of Fig. 3;

Fig. 24 is a plan of the means for operating 45 the sliding rod in Fig.22;

Fig. 25 is a sectional view on the line 25-25 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 26 is a plan of the former and heating units, partly in section; 50

Fig. 27 is an end elevation thereof, looking in the direction of thearrow 21 in Fig. 26;

Fig. 28 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2828 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 29 is a side view of the envelope former; F

Fig. 30 is an end view of the same, as indicated by the arrow 30 in Fig.29;

Fig. 31 is a sectional view of the same on the line 3I-3| of Fig. 29;

Fig. 32 is a view similar to Fig. 29 with the shaping former removed;

Fig. 33 is an end view thereof looking in the direction of the arrow 33in Fig. 32;

Fig. 34 is a plan of said former;

Fig. 35 is a side view of the turret, showing a tape roll but nobrushes;

Fig. 36 is a sectional view on the line 3636 of Fig. 35;

Fig. 37 is a plan showing the connection between the auxiliary drive forthe turret and the turret shaft;

Fig. 38 is a sectional view on the line 38-38 of Fig. 37;

Fig. 39 is a plan of parts of the machine showing the slide operation;Figs. 39* and 39 are sectional views showing the parts in two diflerentpositions.

Fig. 40 is an elevation in the direction of the arrow 40 of Fig. 39;

Fig. 41 is a sectional view on the line "-41 of Fig. 40;

Fig. 42 is an elevation of the brush mechanism and operating parts forlaying down the sealing tape:

Fig. 43 is a sectional view on the line "-43 of Fig. 42 showing thegearing;

Fig. 44 is a sectional view on the line 4l of Fig. 42 showing the taperoll cam;

Fig. 45 is an elevation of one of the tape rolls;

Fig. 46 is an elevation of the same as indicated by the arrow 46 in Fig.45;

Fig. 47 is a sectional view on the line 41-41 of Fig. 46;

Fig. 48 is a plan of the former;

Fig. 49 is a plan of the heating unit;

Fig. 50 is a plan, with parts in section, showing the completion of theenvelope or package;

Fig. 51 is a similar plan showing the envelope completed and the slidewithdrawn;

Fig. 52 is a side view of the envelope;

Fig. 53 is an edge view thereof Fig. 54 is a side view of the levers forforming the end of the package or envelope;

Fig. 55 is a similar view showing the brush in the envelope;

Fig. 56 is a similar view showing the levers moved together to theirfinal position for shaping and closing the open end of the envelope:

Fig. 57 is a sectional view on the line 51-51 of Fig. 56;

Fig. 58 is an elevation ofthe parts shown in Fig. 56 with the turretrotated and illustrating the tape in position and just ready to be woundon to complete the package;

Fig. 59 is an elevation of the same parts showing the sealing operationcompleted and the cutoff knife acting to separate the sealing tape;

Fig. 60 is a view showing the completion of the operation and indicatingthe air admitted to help release the package from the turret, and

Fig. 61 is a side view of the completed brush.

This invention is designed to employ a web of Celiophane" or other suchmaterial for packaging toothbrushes and other brushes. Cellulosederivatives including esters and ethers and even translucent and opaquematerials can be used. A roll of such material is supported in theproper position and the material is drawn from the roll, properlyguided, and brought into a position in which a plunger can force aseparated sheet of the material into a specially designed former toproduce a package or envelope for receiving the bristles of the brush.This envelope is formed so that it preferably is rectangular in crosssection and the edges are sealed by heat. The envelope is located in aposition with its open end up and toothbrushes are fed along a courseand each one brought down into one of these envelopes with the bristleend down. Then the envelope is closed at its open end around the shankof the brush. Finally it is turned on its axis with a piece of celluloseor other tape sticking on one side and engaging it at its forward end.This results in the wrapping of the sticky tape around the closed end ofthe envelope and the hermetic sealing of the package. The tape is fedfrom a reel carrying a plurality of rolls of tape, the action beingautomatic so that each roll as it passes a certain point will feed alength of tape to a rotating brush. Then the tape is cut off and thebrush moved along and the next roll of tape moved up to the sameposition. This furnishes a brush, preferably a toothbrush. with anenvelope surrounding the bristle end of it and hermetically sealed.

The machine is driven by a motor Hl mounted on a frame H. On the shaftof this motor is a pulley I! which, by a belt or the like, drives an airpump 13. I'he pulley I2 is on the motor shaft H- which carries a worm l5driving a worm wheel IS on a shaft IT. This shaft is provided with asliding clutch l8 operated by hand through a lever l9. Whether the shaftis connected up or not, through the clutch, a sprocket wheel 2|! on theshaft ll through a chain It drives a shaft 22 above. This shaft 22,through spiral gears 23, or the like, drives a shaft 2| through asprocket wheel 25 which drives the delivery conveyor chain 28.

When the clutch I8 is closed the shaft ll drives a sliding bar cam 21and a pair of spiral gears 28. which in turn drive a shaft 29. Thisshaft 29 at a higher level, through a pair of bevel gears 30. drives ahorizontal shaft 3|. This shaft 3| through bevel gears 32 drives a shaft33 for operating certain slides in the machine. as will appear later.Also through bevel gears 34 and the shaft 3| is driven a shaft 35. Thisshaft through bevel gears 36 drives a shaft 31 for operating a reel forcarrying the sealing tape. The shaft 35 through bevel gears 38 drives ahorizontal shaft 39 which, through bevel gears 49, drives a. verticalshaft 4| constituting the auxiliary drive for the turret.

The shaft 39 has a handle 42 thereon through which all the mechanism.from this hand wheel back to the cam 21 can be operated by hand when theclutch I8 is opened but not when it is closed. Of course, it isunderstood that where bevel gears and spiral gears are mentioned thevarious drives can take place through any equivalent mechanism.

The shaft 29 is provided with Geneva motion I01, like that shown inFigs. 37 and 38, for driving a parallel shaft intermittently andproviding a quick action when the shaft ll is turning. This is dime sothat the web can be cut into sheets at each dwell of the web. The shaft44 is shown as having a bevel gear 3 driving a bevel pinion 41 on a feedroll shaft 48. as shown in Figs. 3, 24 and 21. On the wait 48 is a gear49 meshing with a companion gear. These two gears are mounted onparallel shafts which carry a pair of circumferentially grooved feedrolls 50 and 50'. One of these is of metal and the other of rubber.

A web of Cellophane or the like is stored 611' a roll I98 which hasaxial handles I" by which it can be lifted and placed in opentoppedbearings III). This roll is free to rotate but is supplied with anadjustable brake III. These feed rolls are for the purpose of drawingthe web over a roll on a shaft 52 carried by a bracket on the frame. andtensioning device 93 which comprises a bracket 94 carried in stationaryposition and a pivoted plate 55 which is latched in place by a latch 56.Both this guide and the bracket are provided with projecting ribs 91which do not quite touch but serve to provide a little tension for theweb. This guide guides the web between two series of vertical rods 59located in grooves in the feed rolls which keep the web in place whileit is passing downwardly. The feed rolls are arranged so that theyengage the web lightly but sufliciently to feed it. The guide rods 59are carried by supports 59 on one of two former frames BI. The web isfed down in front of a stationary plate 62 intermittently. The shaft 29carries a gear 45 constantly driving a sleeve H2, loose on the shaft 44,through a gear 99 (Figs. 3 and 24). As the web comes down through theguides 59 it is cut off, at each dwell, into equal sheets by a pivotedknife blade 65 cooperating with a. second cutting surface and operatedby a cam 66 on the sleeve III. When the cam is out of operation a.spring 61 brings the knife blade back against an adjustable stop 69.

The plate 62, against the front of which the severed sheet of"Cellophane" or the like is brought from the guides 59, is provided witha shield having a vertical slot 1I therein. A sliding bar 12, providedwith smooth sides 13, is pushed in through the slot II, which has anenlarged portion through the center to receive the bar 12. The slidingbar 12 is held by an upright 69 on a slide 91 which runs in ways carriedby the frame. The slide, upright, and bar are reciprocated by a lever 99which is operated by the sliding bar cam 21 and cam roll. This cam islocated on the shaft I1. The slide 12 has a head 12* which is heldyieldingly against a stop by a spring 15.

On the sleeve H2 is an envelope holder cam 19. This operates a lever 11having an end 19 which engages a head 19 on a spring-pressed rod Bil andmoves it as indicated in Fig. 24. A spring 92 retracts the rod IIII.Thisrod has a head 9| on the end and it is located inside the slidingbar 12 so as to move with it except when operated separately by thelever 11. The purpose of this construction is to allow the sliding bar12 to move inwardly through the enlarged part of the opening 1I andengage the center of the severed sheet of Cellophane" and push the sheetinto the formers 14. The general purpose of this action is to form thesheet of "Cellophane? into an envelope B4 or package in which is to beinserted the bristle end of the brush II.

The head II will engage the bottom of said envelope and push it and holdit in position under spring pressure. Thus, when the sliding bar 12starts to withdraw by action of the cam 21, the end of the envelope willbe held at its extreme position for a short time and not be pulled outwith the sliding bar. This is indicated in Figs. 50 and 51. At this timethe pump I3 is operating and exerting a suction through a tube 83against the end of the envelope 94, thus continuing to hold the end ofthe envelope in the position shown in Fig. 51 after the sliding bar isentirely removed.

The web passes through a guide a It will be seen, by reference to Fig.53, how the edges of the sheet are overlapped. The part between the fulland dotted line has to be sealed. For this purpose the former frame 6|is made of two parts spaced apart and separated along their sides by twochannel shaped former casings 91. The former frames 6i are clampedtogether by clamps 89 which are held by screws and can be removed easilyfor readjusting the parts supported and held between these plates. Theframes 9| have recesses for receiving the two rectangular former casings91 which are closed at the outer side and open at the inner. The twoformer casings are shaped to receive the opposite edges of the sheet ofwhich the envelope is made.

One of these former casings and contents is shown in Figs. 29 to 34inclusive. In each casing 91 a main member 95 extends from one end tothe other. It has a curved and varying surface 92 along which the"Cellophane or the like is shaped. It also has at the bottom at theinside a member 93 spaced to provide a passage 94 for the Cellophane. 0nthe side is a forming member 95 spaced from the member 99 and the member93 by a channel 96. The main member 90 is secured to its casing. 91 byscrews 91 and the member 93 is secured to the casing 91 by screws 99.The forming member 95 is secured to the back of the casing 91 by screws99.

The rectangular sheet of Cellophane or other material is doubled overthe sliding bar 12 with its longitudinal edges at first projecting. Asit goes through the former these edges are turned inwardly toward eachother by surfaces lIlIi on the two forming members enclosed in thecasing 31. One of these edges passes through the channel 96 and theother in the channel formed by the varying surfaces 92. These two edges9i overlap each other on both edges of the envelope as indicated in Fig.53. The sides of the rectangular envelope II are left flat, as shown inFig. 52. The edges 9i ride along the surface of the forming member 95and form a pair of flaps, as indicated in Fig. 53. One flap is held inposition by being forced under the member 93 which terminates short ofthe bottom of the end of the forming member and the other is held in thechannel 95 so that the first named flap will be back of it. The resultis an envelope having two opposite edges folded as shown in Fig. 53.These flaps can be sealed together by heat. if "Cellophane" is employed,or by an adhesive.

In the present case the flaps are shown as sealed by heat through theoperation of a pair of heating units IIII, as shown in Fig. 49. Theheating units IIII are each mounted at the end of the former on adepending arm I92 pivoted at I53. Each arm is urged by a spring I 96toward the former and positively adjused by screws and nuts I supportedby the arms I02. A guard I95 protects the roll of "Cellophane" or thelike from the heat.

when the sliding bar has reached the end of its motion it hasstraightened out the envelope and left it in the condition shown in Fig.51 and it is held there when the sliding bar is withdrawn in the mannerthat has been described above.

Thus the envelope is left in a pocket formed in a radial casing I99 of aturret I39 rotatable on a horizontal axis. The turret auxiliary driveshaft ll, by means of bevel gears I20, drives a shaft I2I on which is adisc I22 having a roll I23 and a. second disc I24 having a generallycylindrical outline and constituting a part of a Geneva motion. The rollI23 enters radial notches I25 in a disc I25 on the shaft I21 of theturret. The circumference of the disc I24 engages concave surfaces I29on a wheel I29 also fixed to the shaft I21. This constitutes theremainder of the Geneva motion. The disc I24 has a notch I23 to permitthe intermittent rotation of the wheel I29.

It will be seen that the constant rotation of the shaft I2l with itsdiscs results in rotating the disc I23 and therefore the shaft I21intermittently through a quadrant, in the form shown. Then the disc I24holds the wheel I23 in the stationary position until the roll I23 runsinto the next notch I25. At that time the wheel I23 is released andallowed to rotate by the shaft.

On the shaft I21 is a turret I30 which has, in this case, four radiallyarranged spaces or cutouts I3I for receiving certain mechanism. Also onthis turret in bearings I32 are mounted four shafts I33. Each of theseshafts has a gear I34 for operating it as will be described. Each ofthem is provided with a radially projecting casing I33 which contains aradial pocket I31 into which the envelope 34 is projected by the slidingbar 12 which has been described.

It will be remembered that the envelope is pushed into the pocket inhorizontal position, as shown at the left in Fig. 35, and that it isheld by suction through the pipe 33. This suction is kept up until theturret starts to rotate a quarter revolution and, by means not shown, isthen disconnected. The first quarter revolution of the turret brings thecasing I33 to the top of the turret where it stands vertically, as shownin Fig. 35. At this time one of the toothbrushes is brought down into itthrough a chute I33 in a way that will be described later. The brushfalls to the bottom of the envelope in the pocket and certain actionsare performed on it. After this is done the turret rotates anotherquarter revolution to bring it into horizontal position where theoperations on the brush are completed. At the end of the third rotationof the turret the casing I35 is brought to the vertically downwardlyextended position and the brush drops out of it on the dischargeconveyor 250 (Fig. 20).

On the same axis as the turret is located a stationary edge cam I40.Throughout more than a quarter of the circumference of the cam is thelow part and the rest of it is made up of the high part which extends tothe outgoing side of the casing I36 in its uppermost position. This camis ldsis4ilgned to control in part the operation of a r 1 0n the shaft33, (see Fig. 39) which is supported at one end by a bracket I45 carriedby the frame, is a cam I43. This cam operates a roll I41 which isconnected with and operates a slide I48 supported in ways I49 and guidesI50. This slide has connected with it, preferably integrally, a part IIand a part I52 which slide with it. The part I5I, which can beconsidered as a slide by itself, has the function of engaging heads I53each carried by a pair of rods I54 arranged for each of the fourquarters of the turret. Heads on the other ends of these rods passthrough openings I55 in the stationary cam I40 to operate a slide I53 ina single opening I51 in the stationary cam. Normally the roll I islocated in the plane of the cam. A spring I32 draws back the slide I55along its ways I33 after it has been actuated by the slide I5I. Thisslide I55 has a projection I53 which normally supports the roll I. Whenthe slide I5I operates the rods I54 they push this slide I56 to theposition shown in Fig. 40 and leave the roll I without support (as shownin Fig. 41) until it is supported on the surface of the cam I40 at theleft. Therefore, the roll is controlled by that cam as the turretrotates. After being operated the head I53 is pulled back by a springI50.

The rotation of the turret I30 about the axis of the stationary cam I40from the position at the top of Fig. 35 to the right leaves the roll Iin its low position (shown in Fig. 41) until the turret has rotatednearly 180 and then pushes it out during the rest of the rotation. Theroll I is mounted on a slide I35 guided in ways. This slide has camsurfaces I31 which cooperate with a pair of levers I 33 pivoted oncenters I33 and having at their opposite ends forming surfaces "0 and HIrespectively.

It will be seen that, from the horizontal position at the left hand sidein Fig. 35 up to the vertical position at the top, as shown in thatfigure, the roll I is raised to its extreme position and holds these twolevers in the position shown in Figs. 54 and 55 where they are out ofoperative position. This roll stays on the cam all this time. It is onlywhen it reaches its uppermost position that the action previouslydescribed takes place which moves it over, as shown in Fig. 41, ofi theprojection I53 on the slide I53 and allows it to descend, thus bringingthe levers inwardly to the position shown in Figs. 56 and 57. There thesurfaces I and "I are drawn together by a spring I12. The effect of thisis to force inwardly the opposite sides of an envelope surrounding thebristle end of the brush. This is shown in Fig. 57 and the shapes of thetwo surfaces I10 and HI are in part complimentary so as to bring theopen end ofthe envelope against and around the shank of the brush onopposite sides.

The slide or part I52 is mounted in ways I13 on the slide I43 andcushioned by a spring I14 but otherwise moves with the slide I43 up to astop 2I3. On the slide I52 is a shaping head I which finally actsagainst the shank of the brush to push the "Cellophane" or the like ofthe envelope on the bristle side of the brush back against the shank tocomplete the operation of closing the envelope temporarily about theshank. During this operation the brush is held back against a stopprojection I3I on the casing I33. The way of getting the brush and theenvelope into the casing I33 from the brush chute I33 will be describedlater.

Mounted on the slide I43 is a shaft I11 having upon it a gear I18 formeshing with the gears I34 on the several heads of the turret in orderthat the brush may be turned. By gears I13 this shaft I11 is driven froma shaft I30 which is slidably connected by a spline I III to a drivinggear I32 which in turn is driven by a gear I33 on a shaft I34. The shaftI34 is driven from the shaft 33 by gears I35 and I33. The purpose ofthis last feature is to drive the gear I13 and, when that gear is inmesh with one of the gears I34, to rotatethe brush and its envelope onthe longitudinal axis thereof for the purpose of winding around it atape I31.

The shaft 31 (see Fig. 42) is provided for rotating a reel which carriesthe rolls of cellulose or other adhesive tape for hermetically sealingthe brush package. For that purpose the shaft 31 is provided with a gearI99 which meshes with a gear on a shaft I9I carrying a mutilated gearI92. This gear I92 has two or three teeth at one point in itscircumference and it drives a gear I99 which has corresponding teethequally spaced around its circumference, in this case in ten groups.Therefore, one rotation of the shaft 91 rotates the gear I99 one tenthof a revolution. This gear is mounted on a shaft I99 supported by theframe of the machine and carrying a bearing I99. This bearing is reallya friction cylinder and is surrounded by a felt bushing I99 to applyfriction. This bushing is supported in a strap I91, preferably of metal,secured to a bracket I99 on a cross brace I99 which extends across themachine. Below the cross brace the shaft I99 carries a circular plate299 which constitutes a reel. This plate is reinforced by metallicbraces 29l and carries a series of ten vertically depending arms 292.Each arm at the bottom carries a radial shaft 299 having a roll 299(Fig. 4'7) and also carrying a tape drum 295 on which is wound a tapewhich may consist of any suitable material with adhesive on one side buta cellulose tape is very suitable. This tape projects from its drum downpast a guide roll 299 supported on a bracket 292. In each arm 292 is aslot 291 in which the shaft 299 is adapted to be moved up and down. Thetape drum 299 on which the tape is wound'is provided with pins 299 whichpass through circumferential slots 2| i on an outside plate 2 I9 forprotecting the roll of tape. One of these pins is provided with a headand is adapted to enter an enlarged opening 2" at the end of one of theslots 2 in the plate 9 so that this plate can be removed by turning itslightly. It is shown separated in Fig. 9,1.

On the shaft 91 isa cam'2I2 which, on each rotation of thejhaft, raisesone of the rolls 299 and the tape drum 299. The slot 291 is provided toallow this action to take place. On this cam is a bracket 2I9 whichsupports a brush 2" and a knife 2" which is adapted to cut off the tape.This brush wipes the severed end of the tape down on the shank of thetooth brush. Another brush'2I9 is also mounted on an arm on the shaft 91and moves the tape into contact with the tooth-brush package.

The brushes which are to be packaged or sealed with their bristles inthe envelope, the manufacture of which" has been described, are broughtin by any ordinary endless conveyor 229 having proiections 221 forengaging the bristles at the lower end and carrying the brushes up toaguide 222.

' This guide consists of two separated rails inclined in such a way thatwhen the brush drops oi! the conveyor 229 over its upper guide wheel 229they will fall into this guide and be carried down by gravity.

At a point along the guide the sliding motion of the brushes down theguide is interrupted by a pairoi alternatlngly moving stops 229. Thesestops reciprocate in one of the rails and across the guide. They areconnected with an oscillating level- 229 which is operated by a slide229. This slide reciprocates in a guide 221. On the shaft I2I is.a tripcam 229 which forces forward the slide229. After the cam has moved, aspring 299 restores it and its cam roll 29I to retracted position.

1 shaft 291 which carries the lever 229. This reciprocates the two stops229 alternately and stops each brush at this point. As each brush isreleased from these two stops it moves by gravity down to the positionshown in Fig. 9, at which point the lower end of the handle of the brushenters a trough 299. This trough has a stopping surface 2 which preventsthis end of the brush moving further. The brush swings down and fallsoff the end of the rails 222 and necessarily tips over into the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 9.

The brush enters a guiding device 292 which has a front door 299 latchedin position by a latch 299. In tipping over the brush hits a spring 299to check its motion and enters between a pair of converging walls 299.At the bottom of this hopper formed by these walls is a vibrating stop291 actuated by the rod 299 on which it is mounted. This stop is for thepurpose of preventing more than one brush starting down into the brushchute I99 together. This chute is made very much like the hopper havingtwo doors 298 in front and two walls 299 between which the brushes haveto pass. As shown in Fig. 35 this chute I99 directs the brushes into oneof the caslngs or pockets I91 in the turret.

It will be seen that this machine takes a continuous strip of sheetmaterial, of which the envelope is to be made, feeds it down in front ofan opening, and cuts it off into separate rectangular sheets. Thesliding bar pushes this sheet through an openingat the front of theformer, doubling the sheet over the end of the bar and leaving the fouropposite edges projecting at opposite sides of the bar. This sheet isfed through the former which is so shaped that these projecting edgesare bent inwardly on the two opposite sides of the bar to overlap eachother and form two sides of the envelope. These projecting edges aresealed together by heat, adhesive, or other means. An envelope is formedhaving a rectangular bottom and four sides, two of the sides being of asingle thickness of the material and the other two comprisingoverlapping edges.

The sliding bar with the envelope upon it moves horizontally through theheating units l9l into the pocket I91 shown at the left in Fig. 35. The

, pocket in which it is left practically constitutes one of the arms ofa turret which rotates, in the form shown, on a horizontal axis, thepockets projecting from it radially.

A tooth or other brush is fed up by the conveyor, hanging by gravityfrom its bristle end, and reversed into the hopper which feeds it bygravity down into the envelope which now is in vertical position withits open end up.

The rotation of the turret causes the slide to move in the proper orderto hold the pair of levers away fromthe brush and theenvelope. Afterfurther rotation, the slide is moved so that its spring will bring thesetwo levers together and press the open part of the envelope about theshank. Another slide moves sideways and up against the shank of thebrush and presses the parts of the envelope that project against theshank of the brush to cause the envelope to be carried about said shankready to be sealed.

Now the reel rotates a quarter of a revolution with the brush stickingout radially. At this time the mechanism described operates to rotatethe pocket and brush with the envelope between them. The reel forholding the sealing tape now comes to scaling position with one'of therolls of tape having its free end hanging down. One side of the tape issoftened or otherwise made sticky and adhesive. The rotation of thebrush with the hanging down end of the tape engaging it will wind up thetape on the shank of the brush and around the open end of the envelope,which has been crimped or folded against the shank, to seal the package.

This furnishes a hermetically sealed package around the bristles of theenvelope. The packaged brush is dropped from the pocket, in itsdownwardly projecting position, on the discharge conveyor 250. Thisdischarges the packaged brush from the machine.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what I claim is:-

1. The combination with a pocket open at the end, of a sliding barmovable into said pocket, a former through which the sliding bar movesfor folding a piece of sheet material into the form of an empty envelopeor package around the end of the sliding bar, and pneumatic means forholding the envelope by the bottom outside surface thereof andpreventing removal from the pocket by the removal of the sliding bar.

2. A forming member for making an open ended bag from a sheet largerthan the forming member and centered thereon comprising a casing, amember therein having a surface extending from one extreme corner to theopposite side of the casing at a distance from the open side of theeasing, a second member located along one side of the casing and havinga curved surface on the outside gradually changing from the entrance endtoward the other end and terminating short of the opposite end of thecasing, a third member having a curved gradually diminishing surfacealong the inside, terminating short of the end of the second namedmember, the spaces between these said members constituting means forassisting in forming the edges of the sheet and overlapping them so thatthey may be secured together to produce an envelope, and a plunger forcooperating with said members.

3. A forming member for making an open ended bag from a sheet largerthan the forming member and centered thereon comprising a casing, amember therein fllling the bottom of the casing from one end to theother and having a surface extending from one extreme corner to theopposite side of the casing at a distance from the open side of thecasing, a second member located along one side of the casing and havinga curved surface on the outside and a. curved surface on the insidegradually changing from the entrance end toward the other end andterminating short of the opposite end of the casing, a third memberextending from the bottom of the casing to its open side at one end andhaving a flat surface on the outside and a curved gradually diminishingsurface along the inside, terminating short of the end of the secondmember and a plunger adapted to be inserted in said members to press thesheet against them.

4. The combination of a casing having an openended pocket having aclosed bottom, means for inserting an envelope having a closed bottom insaid pocket with one end of the envelope projecting and the closedbottom touching said bottom of the pocket, means for inserting thebristle end of a tooth brush into said envelope to touch its bottom, andmeans for closing said projecting end of the envelope about the shank ofthe tooth brush.

5. The combination of a casing provided with an open ended pocket and aclosed bottom, means for introducing an envelope into said pocket withthe open end of the envelope projecting therefrom, means for introducingthe bristle end of a brush into said envelope, and means for thereafterpressing the side of the envelope against the shank of the brush.

6. The combination of a casing provided with an open ended pocket, meansfor introducing an envelope having an open end and a closed bottom intosaid pocket with the open end of the envelope projecting therefrom,means for introducing the bristle end of a brush into each envelope,means for thereafter pressing the sides of the envelope against theshank of the brush, and means for pressing the front of the envelopeback against the front of the shank of the brush to complete the foldingof the mouth of said envelope about the brush shank.

7. The combination of a support provided with a series of rotary casingseach having a pocket therein, means for rotating said supportintermittently, means for introducing an envelope into each pocket whenit is in one position, means for introducing the bristle end of a toothbrush into each envelope when the casing is in another position, levershaving ends for compressing the envelope and forming it about the shankof the tooth brush, and a cam for controlling the operation of saidlevers as the support rotates.

8. The combination of a turret provided with a series of rotary radialcasings each having a pocket therein, means for rotating said turret ona horizontal axis, means for introducing an envelope into each pocketwhen it is in horizontal position, means for introducing the bristle endof a tooth brush into each envelope when the casing is in verticalposition, a cam adjacent to the turret having its low side occupying aspace at one side of the cam, a series of slides on the turret movableradially with respect to the turret, rolls located on said slides andnormally engaging the surface of said cam to be actuated thereby, andlevers having ends for compressing the envelope and forming it about theshank of the tooth brush carried in position to be operated by each ofsaid rolls.

9. The combination of a turret rotatable on a horizontal axis, radialmeans carried by said turret for receiving and holding tooth brushes andan envelope for every tooth brush, with a cam adjacent to the turrethaving an opening therethrough at the point of change from the high sideof the cam, a member registering with the high side of the cam andmovable with respect to the turret, a roll adapted to be supported bythe cam, a slide radially mounted with respect to the turret on whichthe roll is mounted, means for moving the roll off the surface of thecam, means for moving the radial slide, and means for actuating thecontrolling means when the radial slide is retracted.

10. The combination with a turret rotatable on a horizontal axis andhaving means radially extending therefrom for supporting brushes andenvelopes enclosing the brushes, of a cam adjacent to the turret, saidcam having an opening, a member adapted to be received in said openingand having a surface constituting a continuation of the high surface ofthe cam, a slide radially mounted on the turret, a roll on said radialslide and normally resting on the surface of said cam, a movable slidein said opening for moving said member out of registration with the cam,thereby allowing said roller to move inwardly, yielding means for movingthe roll inwardly, and means operated by the slide for compressing theenvelope around the brush.

11. A turret iorthe purpose described comprising a series of projectingcasings each having a pocket for an envelope and a brush, a slide on theturret, means operated by said slide for controlling the operation ofcompressing the envelope about the shank of the brush, a second slidemounted slidably and yieldably on the first one and having means forcompressing and shaping the envelope at the front of the shank of brush,and a cam for operating the first-named slide.

12. The combination with a rotatable turret having a series of radialopenings therethrough. otcasings projecting from said openings eachhaving a pocket for receiving an envelope and a brush, a bearing in eachopening for one of said casings, a gear on the casing, a gear inposition to engage the gears on the casings in order as the turretrotates, and means for rotating the lastnamed gear to rotate the casingson their own axes.

13. A rotatable turret for the purpose described comprising a series ofradially projecting casings each having a pocket for an envelope and abrush, a slide on the turret, means operated by said slide forcontrolling the operation of forming the envelope about the shank oi thebrush, a second slide on the first slide having means for compressingand shaping the envelope at the front of the shank of the brush. a camfor operating the first-named slide, and means carried by the firstnamed slide for rotating said casings one by one as they come into acertain position.

14. The combination of a casing having a pocket, means for inserting apreviously formed open envelope in said pocket with the open end of theenvelope projecting therefrom, means for locating said pocket in aposition for receiving the bristle end 01 a brush therein. means forclosing the open end of the envelope about the brush and against theshank thereof, and means for rotating the pocket. envelope. and brush onan ax s.

15. The combination of a casing having a pocket, means for inserting apreviously formed envelope in said pocket with the open end of theenvelope projecting therefrom. means for locating said pocket in-aposition for the open end of the envelope to be at the top, so that itis adapted to receive the bristle end of a tooth brush therein, meansfor closing the open end of the envelope about the tooth brush andagainst the shank thereof, means for rotating the pocket. envelope. andtooth brush on an axis, and means for-moving said casing laterally.

16. The combination of a casing provided with a pocket therein forreceiving an envelope and a tooth brush in the envelope, means forpressing in the sides of the envelope against the shank of the toothbrush, means for-"pressing in the front 01' the envelope against thefront of the shank of the tooth brush, means for rotating the pocket,and means for introducing a sticky tape into engagement with thepressed-in parts of the envelope, whereby the rotation of the toothbrush and envelope will wind the tape thereon.

1'1. The combination 01' a casing provided with a pocket therein forreceivingan envelope, means for locating said pocket with its open endup, in pomtion to receive by gravity the bristle end of a tooth brush inthe envelope, means for moving the casing. envelope, and tooth brushfrom vertical to horizontal position, means tor rotating the casing,envelope, and tooth brush on a horizontal axis in that position, andmeans for introducing a sticky tape into engagement with the envelope,whereby the rotation of the tooth-brush and envelope will wind the tapethereon and seal the envelope to the toothbrush handle.

18. The combination of a casing provided with a pocket therein forreceiving an envelope, means for locating said pocket with its open endup in position to receive by gravity the bristle end of a tooth brush inthe envelope, means for pressing in the sides 01' the envelope at thetop against the shank of the tooth brush, means for pressing in thefront of the envelope against the front of the shank pf the tooth brush,means for moving the casing, envelope, and tooth brush from vertical tohorizontal position, means for rotating the casing, envelope, and toothbrush on a horizontal axis, and means for introducing a sticky tape intoengagement with the pressed-in part of the envelope, whereby therotation of the tooth brush and envelope will wind the tape thereon.

19. The combination of a casing provided with a pocket therein forreceiving an envelope, means for rotating the casing, and means forintroducing a sticky tape into engagement with the envelope, whereby therotation of the envelope will wind the tape thereon.

20. The combination with a turret having casings, each casing providedwith a pocket therein for receiving an envelope therein, means forrotating the turret, means for rotating the casing on its own axis torotate the envelope, a reel, a roll of sticky tape carried by the reel,and means for turning the reel to bring the tape hanging down from theroll into a position to engage the end of the envelope, whereby therotation of the envelope will result in the winding of the tape thereon.

21. The combination with a turret rotatable on a horizontal axis andhaving casings radially projecting therefrom, each casing provided witha pocket therein for receiving an envelope with the bristle end, of abrush therein, means for rotating the turret to present the casings inposition for receiving the envelope and brush successively and then intoa third position, means for rotating the casing on its own axis when inthe third position to rotate the envelope and brush with it, a reel,rolls of sticky tape carried by the reel, and means for rotating thereel to bring the tape hanging down from one roll into a position toengage the end of the envelope, whereby, the rotation of the envelopewill result in the winding oi the tape thereon and the hermetic sealingof the envelope to the brush.

22. The combination with a casing provided with a pocket therein forreceiving an envelope with the bristle end of a tooth brush therein,means for rotating the casing with the envelope therein on its own axis,a reel, rolls of sticky tape carried by the reel in tangential positionand rotatable on radial axes, and means for rotating the reelintermittently to bring the tape hanging down from one roll into aposition to engage the end of the envelope, wheieby the rotation of theenvelope will result in the winding of the tape thereon and the hermeticsealing of the envelope to the brush.

23. The combination of a disc rotatable on a vertical axis, a series ofradial studs on the disc, rolls rotatably mounted on said studs forcarrying a sticky tape with the end depending from the roll, a casinghaving a pocket therein provided with an envelope in the pocket, andmeans for rotating said casing on its own axis, where-- by, when thetape is brought into contact with the envelope projecting from thepocket, the tape will be wound around the envelope.

24. The combination of a disc rotatable on a vertical axis, a series ofradial studs carried by the disc, rolls rotatably mounted on said studsfor carrying a sticky tape with the end depending from the roll, acasing having a pocket therein provided with an envelope in the pocketand a brush or the like projecting from the pocket, means for rotatingsaid casing on its own axis, whereby, when the tape is brought intocontact with the envelope projecting from the pocket the tape will bewound around the envelope, means for wiping down the tape about theenvelope, means for cutting ofi the tape, and means for wiping down itsend.

25. In a reel for the purpose described, the combination of a disc, aseries of arms depending from the circumference of the disc, studscarried by said arms, a tape drum rotatably carried by each stud, saidarms being provided with vertical slots in which the studs are adaptedto rise and fall, and means below the studs for raising the said studsand its tape drum.

26. In a reel for the purpose described, the combination of a disc, 2.series of arms depending from the circumference of the disc, studscarried by said arms, a tape drum rotatably carried by each stud, andmeans carried below the studs for guiding the tape.

27. In a reel for the purpose described, the combination of a rotarydisc, a series of arms depending therefrom, a stud carried by each arm,a tape drum rotatable on each stud, and a plate carried by the stud atits outer end for holding a roll of tape on the drum, said plate havingmeans'for detachably mounting it in position for the ready removal ofthe roll of tape.

28. In a reel for the purpose described, the combination of a disc, aseries of arms depending from the circumference of the disc, studscarried by said arms, a tape drum rotatably carried by each stud, acover plate for the tape drum having circumferential perforationstherethrough, one of them having an enlargement, and pins extendingthrough said perforations, one of them headed, whereby, the plate can beremoved readlly by turning it.

29. The combination of a reel rotatable on a vertical axis, a drivingshaft therefor, gearing connecting said shaft with the reel to cause anintermittent rotation of the reel, a cam on the driving shaft, a tapedrum supported on said reel and adapted to turn on a radial axis, abrush carried by the cam in position for brushing down the tape at theend of its operation, means carried by the cam for cutting off the tape,and means operated by the cam for moving the tape drum.

30. A forming member for sheet material comprising a rear member havinga. front surface provided with a curved portion and with a flat portionat one extreme side thereof, a central front member having a centrallongitudinal rear surface curved so as to be spaced slightly from saidcurved part of said front surface to form a channelfor receiving theedge of a sheet to be formed, and a side member opposite said flatportion and in the plane thereof and having a curved front surfacespaced from said rear surface to form a second passage shaped andlocated to fold one of the free edges of the sheet so that one will befolded over the other as the sheet is fed longitudinally along saidforming member.

31. The combination with a casing having an open ended pocket therein,of a parallel sided sliding bar movable into said pocket carrying anempty envelope or package closed on all sides and on one end and open atthe other end, a cam operated rod movable through and supported in thesliding bar to the end thereof, a plunger within inthe end of thesliding bar for engaging the closed end 01 the envelope, and a springwithin the bar and bearing on the plunger, whereby, when the sliding baris withdrawn, the plunger will still engage the closed end of theenvelope for a short time to prevent the removal of the envelope withthe sliding bar.

EDWARD F. HARMON.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2, 1 5,7 51.

November 8, 1958 EDWARD F. HARMON- It is hereby certified that errorappears in the printed specification of the above numbered patentrequiring correction as follows: Page 6, first column, line 69, claimh,after the syllable "jecting" insert therefrom; and second column, line55, clalmB, after the word "turret" insert intermittently; and that thesaid Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 51st day of January, A. D. 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale Acting Gomissione'r of Patents.

